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Impact LevelMedium
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Scope LevelNational
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Last Update2025-08-09
Key Impacts
Event Overview
The abrupt removal of a high-ranking federal official highlights tensions in political appointments and institutional stability. The commissioner's brief tenure, marked by limited tax expertise and past advocacy for dismantling the agency, intensified debates over bureaucratic competence and partisan influence in administrative roles.
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President Trump Removes IRS Commissioner Billy Long After Two Months in Office
On Friday, President Donald Trump removed Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Billy Long from his position just two months after he was confirmed by the Senate in June 2024. Multiple sources, including White House officials, confirmed the removal. Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri who served from 2011 to 2023, had been an unconventional pick for the IRS position due to his limited tax experience, ties to a fraud-ridden tax credit, and prior support for abolishing the agency.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been appointed as acting head of the IRS while the administration searches for a permanent replacement. Bessent now becomes the sixth person to oversee the IRS in 2024, during a turbulent period for the agency. The IRS has cycled through several leaders since Trump began his second term, beginning with the resignation of Biden-appointed Commissioner Danny Werfel.
President Trump is expected to nominate Long for an ambassadorship. Three sources stated that Long will be Ambassador to Iceland, a role he acknowledged enthusiastically in public statements. In a post on X and a text to NBC News, Long expressed gratitude to Trump, saying, “It is an honor to serve my friend President Trump, and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland... Exciting times ahead!”
The decision to remove Long came just days after broad new tariffs introduced by the Trump administration took effect, and a month after the President signed tax cuts and code changes into law.
Known for his personable leadership style, Long often sent staff-wide emails granting early departures before weekends. The day before his removal, he emailed IRS employees offering a 70-minute early exit to celebrate his upcoming 70th birthday.
The Treasury Department, which oversees the IRS, issued a statement thanking Long “for his commitment to public service and the American people.” The statement noted his “zeal and enthusiasm” in government roles. Officials indicated a new candidate for commissioner would be named in due course.
President Trump Removes IRS Commissioner Billy Long Two Months After Confirmation
On Friday, President Donald Trump removed Billy Long from his position as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), only two months after Long was confirmed by the Senate in June 2024. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been appointed as acting head of the IRS while the administration searches for a permanent replacement.
According to multiple sources, Trump plans to nominate Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri (2011–2023), to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Iceland. Long confirmed his departure to NBC News, stating: "It is a honor to serve my friend President Trump, and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland. I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda. Exciting times ahead!"
Long’s tenure marked the IRS’s sixth leadership change in 2024. He succeeded Danny Werfel, a Biden-appointed commissioner whose term was set to expire in 2027 but who resigned at Trump's inauguration. Before Long’s confirmation, Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender served as acting commissioner.
Long was considered an unconventional choice to lead the IRS due to his limited tax experience, prior ties to a fraud-related tax credit, and past support for abolishing the agency. Known for his personable approach, Long occasionally granted early Friday departures to IRS staff. One day before his dismissal, he emailed employees to allow a 70-minute early departure "so you’ll be rested for my 70th birthday on Monday," as reported by The New York Times.
Treasury spokespersons publicly thanked Long for his public service, noting his "zeal and enthusiasm to bring a fresh perspective" to government roles, both in Congress and under President Trump.
Bessent will continue to manage existing Treasury responsibilities — including trade negotiations with China, Canada, Mexico, and other nations, and assisting in the search for the next Federal Reserve chair — alongside his interim role at the IRS. The Trump administration has undertaken significant restructuring of the IRS, including substantial job cuts as part of efforts led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk.
The decision to remove Long came shortly after Trump enacted new tariffs and signed extensive tax cuts into law, which have increased tariff revenue by billions of dollars per month.